(Continued) Honouring the promise of international law to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence - Security Council, 10190th meeting

The 10,190th meeting of the Security Council is resumed.
I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than three minutes maximum in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously.
The flashing light on the microphone.
The red light will prompt speakers to bring their remarks to a close after three minutes.
I now give the floor to the representative of Poland.
Madam president.
Madam president, I would like to thank the DRC for convening this debate as well as all of the Briefers Srsg Pramila Patten, as well as Miss Karen Joselyn, for their edifying presentations.
Poland would like to associate itself with the statement that will be delivered by the EU by Canada on behalf of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security.
I would now like to make a few comments in a national capacity.
Sexual violence is not an inevitable byproduct of war.
It is a crime under international law, deliberate, preventable and punishable.
Yet the Secretary General's latest report documents a sharp rise in verified cases marked by extreme brutality and directed mainly against women and girls, while also affecting men and boys, particularly in detention settings.
Behind every statistic stands a survivor to whom international law has made a promise.
Today we must ask ourselves whether we are keeping that promise.
Madam president, this year, for the first time, a permanent member of this council, the Russian Federation, has been listed in the annex to the Secretary General's report.
Among parties credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of conflict related sexual violence.
United Nations monitors have verified hundreds of cases of concrete related sexual violence committed by Russian armed and security forces against detained Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war, including rape, genital mutilation, forced nudity and acts of torture involving electric shocks and beatings to the genitals.
No seat at this table confers immunity.
Those responsible at every level of command must be held accountable.
Poland supports the secretary general's call on the Russian Federation to immediately cease all acts of sexual violence, issue clear order chains of command, investigate all credible allegations, and grant unimpeded access for monitoring and the provision of services to survivors in areas and detention facilities under its control.
At the same time, Ukraine demonstrates that the promise of international law can be upheld even amid ongoing aggression.
Its 2025 law on urgent interim reparations for survivors, the first of its kind adopted during an active armed conflict, sets a new global benchmark.
Poland was proud to co-sponsor the presentation of this legislation at the Human Rights Council and to co-host two weeks ago, the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which placed reparations for survivors firmly on the recovery agenda.
We encourage partners to close the funding gap so that survivors receive redress now, rather than in an uncertain future.
Madam president, allow me to make three brief points.
First, impunity must carry a cost.
Sanctions committees should make consistent use of conflict related sexual violence as a designation criterion supported by dedicated expertise within their monitoring groups.
Second responses must be survival centred.
Survivors are co-creators of solutions, not passive beneficiaries.
Their meaningful participation in policy making, in line with Security Council Resolution 2467 should become standard practice alongside comprehensive assistance, including for children born of wartime rape.
Third, the mandate requires adequate resources.
Poland has supported the office of the Special Representative financially and encourages others to do the same.
As the United Nations undergoes institutional reform.
Poland will continue to advocate for strengthening this mandate and the specialized expertise it has built, including the work of the team of experts on the rule of law and sexual violence in conflict in advancing justice and accountability.
Women's protection advisers and support for women led organisations are equally indispensable to prevention, monitoring and response and must not become casualties of this organisation's financial crisis Survivors have kept their part of the promise by speaking out, often at great personal risk.
It is now time for this council and this organisation to keep ours.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Poland for her statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Austria.
Thank you, Madam President.
Uh, dear Foreign Minister Therese Wagner.
Allow me to thank you.
And the Democratic Republic of the Congo, um, to convene for convening this open debate.
And I also want to thank the Briefers, especially for their important insights.
Austria aligns itself with the statements of the European Union and the Group of Friends of Women, peace and security.
We are deeply alarmed by the escalation in the volume and brutality of conflict related sexual violence reflected in the Secretary General's report.
Madam president, allow me to highlight some of Austria's priorities in this context, including during our upcoming Security Council term.
First strengthening protection.
Austria will continue to advocate for full respect for international humanitarian law and the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2467.
Priority must be to ensure safe, timely and non-discriminatory access to essential services for victims and survivors, including medical care, psychosocial support and legal assistance.
Second, advancing accountability impunity remains a principal driver of conflict related sexual violence to advance accountability for these crimes.
Cooperation among prosecutors and practitioners and enhancing national capacities are vital.
Austria has joined the CR v Prosecution Network as a co-financing partner.
We equally underscore the importance of the monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements.
Mara and the Secretary General's annual report for documenting violations and identifying patterns.
Third, translating commitments into actions.
The team of experts has demonstrated measurable results in strengthening investigations prosecutions and justice responses to to conflict related sexual violence.
Austria remains committed to supporting the team's operational work through the financing of projects, including in Ukraine and South Sudan, with the aim to advance national efforts to deliver justice for victims and survivors.
Last but not least, participation participation.
As the numbers have shown, the positive effect of women's participation on conflict prevention and conflict resolution.
We will uphold our shared commitments regarding the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women at all levels.
Madam president, Austria will continue to support the prevention of conflict related sexual violence and strengthen the rule of law during our council term.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Austria, and I would now like to give the floor to the representative of Luxembourg.
Thank you, Madam President.
Your Excellency, Minister Luxembourg aligns itself with the statements delivered by the EU and the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security.
We'd like to thank the Democratic Republic of the Congo for convening this debate.
We'd like to extend our gratitude to the Srsg, Miss Pramila Patten, for her commitment and for briefing us on the annual report on conflict related sexual violence.
Miss Paton, we'd like to reiterate our unswerving support for your mandate, as well as for the crucial work being done by your teams teams operating in a very difficult context characterised by the intensification of armed conflict, ongoing restrictions on humanitarian access, as well as a rollback of respect for human rights, in particular the rights of women and girls.
As the Sg's report underscores, the number of conflict related sexual violence cases confirmed by the UN in 2025 rose sharply year on year.
Every act of sexual violence has devastating consequences for the victims for women, men, girls and boys, for their families and their communities.
In order, in order to honour the courage of victims.
Luxembourg, together with its Benelux partners, organised the launch of the Thinking of You exhibition on the sidelines of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in March of this year.
Madam president, Luxembourg Luxembourg would like to emphasise three points.
First, impunity should never be tolerated.
Impunity creates fertile ground for repeat violence.
It's absolutely necessary that we have legal systems that can prevent investigate sexual violence, as well as to effectively prosecute the perpetrators thereof.
We support the Sg's recommendation to member States which calls on member states to draw inspiration from model legislative provisions so as to strengthen their national legislative frameworks and ensure better protection of human rights for all, including victims and those who have survived violence.
Next, we encourage Member States to ensure that the needs and interests of survivors lie at the heart of policies.
Survivors, access to health care, psychological support, as well as legal aid should be facilitated without discrimination, without any restrictions, so as not to worsen the trauma they've been subjected to.
As for Luxembourg we support all action, which aims to meet the needs of victims and survivors of sexual violence in South Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
And this together with civil society partners.
Last but not least, we call on parties to conflicts listed in the annex of the Secretary-General's report to fully cooperate with the Srsg and to bring those responsible to justice.
We call on the parties to fully uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, to put an immediate end to sexual violence and to guarantee safe and unfettered humanitarian access, whether that be in Ukraine, in Myanmar, in Sudan, in Israel and in the occupied Palestinian territory or in other situations.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Luxembourg.
I now give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Korea.
Thank you, Madam President.
At the outset, I have to begin by thanking DRC president for convening this timely open debate.
The reason is that having attended Ccr5 related meetings and side events here in New York, I had opportunity to listen directly to the testimonies of Ccr5 survivors.
Their account made me realize the gravity of this issue and reinforced my conviction that it requires more urgent response from the international community.
Likewise, guided by the poignant weight of its own history and solidarity with all victims everywhere, the Republic of Korea is gravely concerned by the sharp global rise in conflict related sexual violence.
Indeed, as hauntingly presented in the report, there has been a disturbing upsurge of cases of conflict related sexual violence during the reporting period all around the world.
The suffering inflicted by Ccr5 is real.
At the same time, this shocking rise of Ccr5 is transpiring amidst an international system already facing other acute crises.
Many member states made similar points related with CRS during morning sessions.
But let me and allow me to highlight the following key points again.
First, with the support for survivors abruptly reduced in today's era of mass humanitarian funding cuts and inherently survivor centered approach is essential to ensure that we leave no one behind.
As I said in the beginning, my government is well aware that survivors face a long road to recovery, elevated social stigmas and difficult rehabilitation back into societies, making them vulnerable to further abuse and exploitation.
Thus, it is integral to now collectively revitalise the prevention and response architecture under Security Council Resolution 1888.
Second, all parties must comply with universal obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Notably, this includes the immediate cessation of the scourge of Ccr5 ensuring humanitarian access, including critically at prisons and detention sites and holding all perpetrators accountable.
Impunity for its violation only paves the way for perpetrators to continue committing heinous crimes.
Third, it is essential to restore honour and dignity of all victims and readable collective efforts to heal their lasting wounds.
As a country with a painful historical experience of comfort women, the WP s agenda is a particularly close and vital issue for Korea to this day.
We remain committed to restoring the honour and dignity of the comfort women victims, and to healing their psychological wounds.
In this context, under the action with Women and Peace Initiative, my government continues to strongly support peace activists and sexual violence survivors in difficult conflict situations.
Alongside faithful cooperation with the UN Srsg on sexual violence and conflict at the global level.
Madam president, crime victims deserve protection.
They deserve rights.
They deserve survival support, and they deserve accountability.
The report Korea will continue to amplify the powerful voices down the road.
Thank you, Madam President.
Merci.
I thank the representative of the Republic of Korea.
I now give the floor to the representative of Israel Thank you, Madam President.
Today's debate is about making sure that international law protects survivors of sexual violence in conflict zones.
It is about preventing these crimes, holding perpetrators accountable and putting survivors first.
Israel takes that responsibility seriously, but none of this is possible without evidence, without fairness, without rules.
And that is why I cannot stay silent.
As Mrs.
Pramila Patten briefs this council on a report that contains baseless allegations against Israel.
Six weeks ago, Israel's armed and security forces were added to the secretary general's blacklist.
Israel, a democracy governed by the rule of law placed alongside Boko Haram alongside ISIS, alongside Hamas alongside the same terrorists that used sexual violence on October 7th and against our hostages in captivity.
That is not accountability.
It is a moral disgrace.
But, Madam President, we all know what really happened here.
Let's admit it.
Last year, after months of delay, Hamas was finally and rightly placed on the Secretary General's blacklist.
Immediately after that, in the name of balance, the anti-Israel forces inside the UN decided that Israel had to be added to to make a balance.
And instead of standing up to that pressure, Miss Pramila Patten gave into it.
She caved to the Secretary General.
She was not a bystander in this shameful process.
She gave it credibility.
She defended it.
And when asked whether she had seen the evidence with her own eyes, she answered and I quote, no, because this is not my job.
She also said, and I quote, it is not the responsibility of my office to do any verification.
So, Miss Patten, let us understand this clearly.
You put Israel on a damaging UN blacklist.
You defended the decision before the world, but you say verifying the allegation was not your job.
Then whose job was it? Who should verify it? You are supposed to be independent.
Instead, you became part of the campaign.
Miss.
Pardon? You are not a bystander.
You are a collaborator.
The truth is simple.
Israel collaborated, cooperated with you repeatedly.
We opened our doors so you could pursue your mandate.
You came to Israel after October 7th.
You met everyone.
You saw the evidence with your own eyes You knew the issues.
And about this year, I myself met with you twice this past year.
I came to your office in September and again in February We built trust with your team and trust does not come easily to us in this building.
After we saw what happened with UN women, after what happened with the Commission of Inquiry bodies, that led us down again and again, recycling blood libels and Hamas talking points But with you and your team, we believed it was different.
We really thought we developed a professional working relationship.
You were scheduled to visit Israel twice Twice you cancelled.
And then without presenting the specific cases to us, you blacklisted Israel anyway.
Your mandate requires a pattern.
So show us.
Show us a pattern.
Your report cites 3131 alleged cases involving Israel across three years, including 13 cases in 2025, 13 alleged cases in 2025.
Now compare that with the rest of your own report.
I'll give you a few examples.
The Central African Republic 10,385 cases.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo 1534 cases.
And still Israel , with 13 alleged alleged cases was fast tracked onto the blacklist.
No clear threshold.
No consistent standard.
No proof of a pattern.
So today we have to ask why? Why Israel? Why the rush? The answer is clear.
It is because the secretary general wanted Israel on that list.
That is the answer.
This is the perfect final chapter of Mr.
Guterres legacy as outgoing secretary general.
For years, he has tried to create false moral equivalence between Israel and the terrorists who seek our destruction.
Now, in his final months, he has done it again.
He has tried to place the state of Israel in the same moral category as Hamas.
So let us call this what it is.
It is a shameful lie, a campaign and a political theatre.
Mr.
Patten, I have a challenge for you before this council.
If we are wrong.
If I'm wrong today, prove it.
If you have nothing to hide, show us.
Prove that the decision was not fast tracked.
No pressure from the Sg's office.
Prove that there was no political pressure.
In the interest of transparency, release your communications with the SG.
Any credible institutions, any credible government.
We know about transparency.
Show this council how the decision was really made.
Who made the phone call? If you have nothing to hide, Miss Patten, why don't you today open your phone, show us the email.
Show us the text that led to that shameful decision.
We know it.
You know it.
This listing was not your professional judgment.
It is the Secretary General's political tool.
He pressured you and you caved.
He did not have to be this way.
I don't know if you remember my colleagues.
If you remember, Miss Alice, India to the UN, the UN's former special adviser on the prevention of genocide.
If you don't let me remind you about what happened to her.
She faced the same pressure from the same people, from the same floor.
The secretary general demanded from her that she called Israel's self-defense in Gaza a genocide.
That's what he wanted her to say in a report.
She told him no.
She refused.
She knew her mandate.
She knew genocide requires proof of intent, and she wouldn't make a false accusation against Israel just to satisfy a political campaign.
Then what happened to her? In her own words? And I quote what she said.
I was hounded day in, day out, bullied, hounded with protection from nobody.
Threats from inside the U.N., a coordinated campaign to removal from office.
She paid with her job, but she kept her integrity You faced the same bullies, Miss Patten, Miss India, who stood her ground.
You fell in line.
And if you stand for nothing, Miss Patten, what will you fall for? And for what? Your tenure ends in December.
You traded your integrity, your credibility, your reputation for a few more months on a U.N.
salary.
Perhaps one day when the secretary general is no longer pulling the strings in this building, you will finally find your own voice.
And you will share the truth about what happened, how this decision was made.
You will release the emails.
You will reveal the pressure.
You will admit what really happened.
Miss Patten, history is full of bureaucrats who later claimed they had no choice.
But you had a choice.
You could have refused.
You could have defended the independence of your mandate.
You could have resigned.
You failed to do so.
Then you should resign now.
You tried to stain Israel, but the stain is not on Israel.
The stain is on you.
I thank the representative of Israel for his statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Liechtenstein For the floor.
Madam president, madam president, the Secretary General's latest report evidences the shocking scale, brutality and perseverance of conflict related sexual violence.
Verify cases have more than doubled in 2025, reaching the highest level since reporting began 16 years ago.
The annex to the report now lists 77 parties to conflict credibly suspected of committing these crimes.
More than 65% of which are repeat perpetrators.
This year's report not only documents a significant increase in verified cases, but also changes in pattern of conflict related sexual violence.
It highlights the use of digital technologies to threaten, exploit and silence survivors, as well as growing pressure on humanitarian access, monitoring and survivor assistance.
At the same time, and as the Special Representative has underlined, the figures are an indication of the dangerous pattern of violations that remain widely underreported.
Women's protection advisers, whose work consists in monitoring and engaging with conflict parties, remain crucial for the adequate documentation of these crimes.
Liechtenstein regrets that these specialists are not deployed to all conflict affected situations covered in the report, even though their deployment is mandated by the Security Council.
In light of the unprecedented rise in verified violations.
It is deplorable that the current budgetary crisis risks having a detrimental impact on the safety of women affected by armed conflict, while women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected.
The report illustrates that men and boys are also subject to these crimes, particularly in detention settings.
Most of the Ukrainian and Palestinian victims of conflict related sexual violence, for instance, are men and boys subject to sexual torture, rape and other forms of violence during imprisonment.
Based on the verified information available, the perpetrators of these crimes, Russian armed and security forces, as well as Israeli armed and security forces, were listed for the first time as parties to conflict, credibly suspected of using sexual violence in situations of armed conflict.
Many male survivors of such violence face profound stigma that discourages reporting and limits access to specialized support.
In this regard, we commend the pioneering work of the Liechtenstein based Survivors Project Foundation on conflict related sexual violence against men and boys, in collaboration with partner organizations across Ukraine.
The Survivors Project has, for example, helped to ensure that survivors can access the necessary support services, including health providers and the justice system.
Such initiatives constitute important steps to recognize the full spectrum of survivors of CRC and ensure that their needs are met.
Madam president, over the past two decades, the Security Council has developed a comprehensive framework for the prevention of and response to conflict related sexual violence.
The International Criminal Court has continuously made vital contributions to the work of the Security Council by promoting accountability for rape, sexual slavery and forced prostitution, false pregnancy and forced sterilisation, and other forms of sexual violence.
These crimes are respectively recognised as war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute.
Madam president, the report provides also examples of additional progress in Colombia.
The special Jurisdiction for peace continues to advance accountability, including through landmark decisions on command.
Responsibility for sexual violence in Ukraine.
Sustained international support has strengthened national capacities to investigate and prosecute these crimes.
And in Syria, the establishment of transitional justice institutions offers an opportunity to integrate accountability for conflict related sexual violence in order to preserve the progress, it is essential to maintain effective monitoring, specialized expertise and sustained support for survivors as well as accountability mechanisms.
I thank you so much Madam President.
I thank the representative of Liechtenstein for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of India.
Madam President.
At the outset, I congratulate the Democratic Republic of Congo for assuming the presidency of the Council for this month.
I also take this opportunity to thank SR Pramila Patten and the briefer for her insights.
Today's open debate is on a subject that warrants collective deliberation by member states, particularly in the wake of findings of the Unsg report on conflict related sexual violence that corroborates a sharp increase in verified cases in 2025 and the extreme brutality involved.
Sexual violence continues to be used as a means of war, of terrorism torture and political repression to subjugate communities, suppress dissent and inflict human suffering.
This continues amid a thriving culture of impunity.
We strongly condemn such heinous acts.
Madam president, conflict related sexual violence devastates women individually and creates inerasable scars on the spirit of the human ecosystems around them.
Beyond physical harm, the psychological trauma and social isolation that follows demand, carefully designed interventions for the rehabilitation and reintegration of survivors.
Addressing this scourge, therefore, calls for a multifaceted national approach aimed towards deterring and prosecuting such crimes and ensuring delivery of justice to the victims.
Madam president, in India's experience, deployment of women peacekeepers is a proven measure with transformative impact.
In addressing CRS of the first ever all women formed police unit of the UN, deployed by India to Liberia in 2007, was instrumental in creating an environment for addressing criminality, deterring sexual and gender based violence, and in helping to rebuild safety and confidence among people.
The unique perspective brought by female peacekeepers also strengthens systems to deter CRS.
In this context, I would like to highlight the contribution of Major Moiz Yassin, who has forced ombudsperson and welfare officer in Unmis, built an accessible, confidential and victim centred channel for informal grievance reporting.
She conducted over 40 tailored sessions across troop and police, contributing countries and military observers, and also established a force gender database for evidence based, gender responsive planning.
Another example is Major Sonia Devendra Naivasha, the focal point for uniformed women and a member of the Unmis Gender Task Force.
She worked actively towards the intelligence and planning functions for CRC prevention, built Unpol military best practice networks and engage the host nation on gender issues.
I am happy to report that both Major Moiz Yassin and Major Sonia are being awarded the 2026 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Recognition Certificate by the UN Secretary General for their remarkable efforts.
They follow in the footsteps of peacekeepers from India, who have been similarly honoured in 2019, 2024 and 2025.
Madam president, our international efforts to combat CRV flow from our domestic policy based on a three pronged approach to eliminate violence against women.
This includes, first, creating an environment that fosters women's safety.
Second.
Effective implementation of legislation to safeguard it.
And third, infrastructure that supports women in distress.
Guided by this approach, we have instituted a pan-India helpline, 181 for Women in distress operational across the country.
India has also rolled out the Safe City project in major cities to create an environment of safety for women in public spaces.
Women helped us have been established in police stations nationwide, and over 900 Sakhi one stop centres have been established across the country for women in distress.
They offer shelter and medical, legal psychological support for them under one roof so that they receive the care, comfort and protection they need.
India's penal code was also revamped by introducing stringent provisions in criminal law for violence against women, including enhanced penalties for sexual offences and instituting survivor centric procedures to safeguard the dignity and rights of victims.
Fast track special courts have been set up to ensure efficient investigation and prosecution of offenders.
These efforts are also underpinned by the Nirbhaya Fund, with a corpus of nearly $930 million specifically dedicated for initiatives on women's safety.
Madam president, in closing, I would like to underscore that India remains committed to working with the UN and the wider membership to share our experience and assistance to ensure that women remain protected and survivors receive the justice they deserve across the world.
Thank you, Madam President.
I thank the representative of India for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Lithuania.
Thank you, Madam President.
Lithuania aligns itself with the EU statement and the statement of Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security, and would like to add the following remarks in its national capacity.
We thank the Democratic Republic of the Congo for convening this timely debate.
We reaffirm our strong support for the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual violence in conflict, Pramila Patten, whose leadership is indispensable in driving accountability, strengthening prevention and ensuring that survivors remain at the centre of our collective response.
Conflict related sexual violence continues to be perpetrated with alarming scale brutality and impunity across multiple settings, from Haiti and the Central African Republic to Sudan, Myanmar and beyond.
These crimes are deliberately used to terrorize populations, forcibly displaced communities, and perpetrate violence.
Lithuania remains deeply concerned by these trends and underscores the need for consistent attention to all situations, guided by international law and a survivor centered approach.
All parties identified in the Secretary General's report must end.
These violations, prevent their recurrence, grant full UN access and cooperate with accountability mechanisms.
At the same time, we must not overlook Ukraine in the context of Russia's ongoing war of aggression.
The report documents patterns of sexual violence in detention and temporary occupied territories of Ukraine, often used as a form of torture, including against prisoners of war and civilian detainees.
Notably, many verified cases concerned men, highlighting that victims include all genders, particularly in detention settings.
Lithuania welcomes listing of Russian armed and security forces in the annex of the report for the first time.
This designation carries particular gravity.
Given that Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council, entrusted with the maintenance of international peace and security.
Its listening listening underscores the urgent need to ensure that no state, regardless of its status is beyond scrutiny of all accountability under international law.
Accountability must extend not only to direct perpetrators, but also to those exercising command responsibility who order, enable or fail to prevent such crimes.
Conflict related sexual violence is not an inevitable by product of war It is a crime that must be investigated and prosecuted, regardless of the perpetrator's rank or affiliation.
Madam president, the report reminds us that the figures we see represent only a fraction of reality.
Survivors continue to face stigma, trauma, fear of reprisals and significant access constraints, particularly in detention facilities and occupied territories.
It demands sustained political will to ensure access, strengthen monitoring mechanisms and fully resource protection efforts, including the deployment of women's protection advisers.
Lithuania reaffirms and recognises the important work of UN action against Sexual Violence in conflict, whose inter-agency efforts have helped translate global commitments into tangible support for survivors and strengthen national capacities.
Upholding international humanitarian and human rights law requires more than commitments.
It requires action Survivors must see justice delivered, perpetrators must be held to account, and impunity must end.
Lithuania will continue to work with partners to advance these principles.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Lithuania for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Guatemala.
Madam president.
Guatemala would like to thank the presidency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for convening this open debate.
We reaffirm the importance of maintaining sexual conflict related violence at the heart of the Security Council, and we highlight the importance of the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in conflict as a mechanism for strengthening prevention, for protecting victims, and ensuring a coordinated response by the United Nations system.
We also thank the Briefers for their valuable statements, which remind us that behind every statistic are individuals, families and communities that have been profoundly affected.
They call upon us to redouble our efforts to ensure that these violations do not continue to occur.
Experience has shown that United Nations action can produce tangible results when it is carried out in close coordination with national institutions through agreed cooperation frameworks and in accordance with the resolutions of this Council.
In Guatemala, such support has contributed to historic progress in transitional justice for women who survived sexual violence during the internal armed conflict.
Cases such as Sepoy Zarco and that of the Maya Achi women constitute important precedents that demonstrate the need to strengthen national capacities to investigate these crimes, hold those responsible, accountable, and prevent survivors from being revictimized throughout every stage of the judicial process.
To advance towards the eradication of conflict related sexual violence, it is essential to strengthen respect for and implementation of human rights and international humanitarian law.
Guatemala calls upon all parties to conflict, to fully comply with their international obligations and to adopt effective measures to protect civilians, particularly women and girls.
Respect for these norms provides the foundation for preventing further violations, strengthening the rule of law, and building sustainable peace.
As President Arevalo stated during Peace Building Week, achieving peace does not mean closing a chapter of history.
Rather, it is an ongoing task of democracy.
Thank you.
I thank the representative of Guatemala for his statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Saudi Arabia.
Awad, an Arab.
In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate.
At the outset, I would like to welcome Her Excellency, Prime Minister of DRC, Judith Sumino Toluca, and also congratulate the DRC on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and for organizing this important event We'd also like to thank the Republic of Colombia for its presidency of the Council last month, and also express our appreciation to the Briefers for their valuable presentations.
Madam president, ladies and gentlemen, we meet today at a time when sexual violence continues to be used in many armed conflicts as a weapon of oppression, intimidation, and forced displacement also to target civilians, particularly women and children.
This is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
The Security Council, in adopting resolution 1820 in 2008 and the subsequent related resolutions, reaffirmed that conflict related sexual violence poses a serious threat to international peace and security.
And this is why the perpetrators of these acts must be held accountable.
Addressing this crime is a shared responsibility for the entire international community and all states concerned.
We need coordinated efforts to address its root causes.
And to genuinely protect civilians and victims.
Madam president, my country reaffirms its firm and long standing commitment to international humanitarian law and international human rights law stemming from our legal, humanitarian and moral responsibilities.
The kingdom attaches particular importance to protecting civilians in the face of violations related to sexual violence in conflict areas, and that in accordance with the values and principles of our religion, Islam.
We also insist on the need to respect the provisions of the Geneva Conventions, and we would call for a strengthening of the means of implementation of international humanitarian law.
That is why we condemn all violations committed against civilians, and we stress the importance of ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for their acts.
And we must continue to ensure delivery of humanitarian assistance to those affected.
Protecting the most vulnerable groups is not only a legal obligation imposed by international humanitarian law, but above all, it is a collective humanitarian and moral responsibility that requires us all to work tirelessly.
We are working internationally in various forms to provide support without distinction or discrimination.
In this context the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre continues to support humanitarian programmes.
To help the most vulnerable, including those victims of sexual violence, in cooperation with international humanitarian organisations.
Madam president, ladies and gentlemen, international humanitarian law requires that civilians under the authority of a party to a conflict must be treated humanely without discrimination, and they must also be protected from all forms of violence and degrading treatment, including torture and killing.
The violations committed in the Palestinian territory, including acts of sexual violence, constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and our shared humanitarian values.
We call for urgent international action to halt these violations and to protect civilians and hold those responsible for these grave abuses accountable.
In conclusion.
Providing protection in the face of sexual violence in areas of armed conflict is a legal obligation from which there can be no derogation.
It is also a humanitarian and moral responsibility that we cannot ignore.
We support all efforts, sincere efforts to provide protection to civilians and achieve peace and stability for everyone, and we must strengthen international cooperation in combating this phenomenon in order to respond to the suffering of victims of conflict related sexual violence, wherever it may be.
Thank you.
I thank the representative of Saudi Arabia for his statement, and I now give the floor to the permanent observer of the observer state of Palestine.
Madam president, allow me at the outset to express our gratitude to your distinguished delegation for convening this important session.
We commend the leadership of your Prime Minister who presided over the meeting.
This reflects the great importance your country attaches to the issue of conflict related sexual violence.
I would also like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual violence in conflict, Pramila Patten.
For her comprehensive briefing.
I would also like to thank the Secretary General for his annual report for 2026, which sheds light on one on sexual on conflict related sexual violence, which sheds light on one of the gravest violations with the most devastating impact on victims and their communities.
We condemn in this regard the immoral attack by the representative of the Israeli occupation authorities against the Secretary General and his representative, Miss Patten, for having fulfilled their duties in this regard with a high level of professionalism and the fact that they refuse to be subjected to blackmailing defamation and pressures that were immoral and inhumane.
Madam president, we noted with deep concern the Secretary General's report documenting cases that prove that Israeli occupation forces have committed violations with a sexual nature against Palestinians, including forms of sexual torture and degrading treatment.
The documented cases included 31 Palestinian victims, including 14 men, seven women, nine boys and one girl.
Two different forms and patterns of rape, including gang rape, attempted rape, threats of rape humiliating body searches, forced nudity and the use of sexual violence as a means of torture or humiliation.
Whether in Israeli prisons and detention centres, at checkpoints or during military incursions into Palestinian cities, villages and refugee camps.
The report attributed these violations, which were verified in accordance with international standards established by the Security Council in its relevant resolutions.
They were attributed to the Israeli occupation forces, the Israeli prison services and Israeli security and police units.
In this regard, the State of Palestine welcomes the decision to include the Israeli occupation forces on the blacklist as a first step toward achieving justice for Palestinian victims and holding Israeli officials accountable for these crimes.
This is especially important in light of the complicity of the Israeli government and the absence of any efforts to achieve justice for victims, but rather provide immunity for the perpetrators.
One of the most prominent examples is the rape of a Palestinian detainee in the main prison by Israeli occupation forces.
Despite confirmation of the incident and the availability of evidence and medical reports, all charges against those perpetrators were dropped.
Madam president, the Israeli violations against Palestinian victims documented in the report represent only a small fraction of the actual number of cases.
Israel continues and does not hesitate to use sexual violence as a weapon of war in the Gaza Strip and as a means of displacement and intimidation in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem.
Palestinians, especially in occupation prisons, are subjected to all forms of torture, including sexual torture, without any accountability.
We therefore renew our call on your esteemed council to guarantee unhindered access for United Nations bodies and relevant international mechanisms to guarantee unhindered access to all occupied Palestinian territory, enabling independent monitoring and investigation of all cases.
We call for immediate protection for the Palestinian people and for the release of all Palestinian prisoners and detainees who endure the most severe forms of torture and degrading treatment including women and children.
We also call for ensuring that survivors have access to medical, psychological, social, legal and reparative services.
International law imposes clear obligations to protect human dignity, to prohibit torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment.
Any proven violation must be met with accountability, regardless of the identity of the perpetrator or the victim.
Madam president, the credibility of the United Nations rests on adherence to impartiality, objectivity, and reliance on documented evidence This requires supporting, monitoring and investigation mechanisms, enabling them to carry out their work without obstacles, pressures, incitement or distortion.
In this context, the State of Palestine rejects the campaign of defamation and incitement launched by Israel against the secretary general and his representatives because of their fulfilment of the mandates entrusted to them by the Security Council.
Israel cannot continue to act as though it is above the law, and that it is beyond the reach of international standards, or label any criticism against it as flawed application of standards or biased against it, rather than the fact that the standards are applied in response to crimes committed by Israel.
In conclusion, we reaffirm that protecting Palestinian civilians, safeguarding their human dignity, achieving justice for them, and ensuring accountability for perpetrators of violations against them are not merely legal obligations, but rather moral responsibilities and imperatives borne by this council and the international community as a whole.
Thank you Madam President.
I thank the permanent observer of the observer state of Palestine for his statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Belgium.
President.
Madam president, welcome to New York.
I joined my colleagues in congratulating you on your presidency of the Council.
Belgium would like to align itself with the statements by the European Union and the group of friends.
We wish to thank the DRC for organising this debate.
Thanks also go out to the Srsg, Miss Pramila Patten and Miss Karen Joslin, representing civil society.
Thank you for those briefings.
I'd like to deliver the following statement in a national capacity.
Belgium is deeply alarmed by the findings of the 17th Annual Report on conflict related sexual violence across 21 countries issued by the SG.
We're particularly concerned by the growing nexus between conflict related sexual violence, terrorism, organised crime and war economies, as well as by the heightened vulnerability of displaced and refugee women and girls.
We are equally disquieted by the widespread persistence of these violations In fact, over 65% of listed parties have been listed in the annexes for five years or more without taking any meaningful corrective action.
This underscores the urgent need for stronger prevention measures.
Effective sanctions regimes, unrestricted humanitarian access, as well as the full implementation of Security Council resolutions on W s for the very first time.
The report lists the Russian armed and security forces, as well as the Israeli armed and security forces for conflict related sexual violence.
The report also continues to list Hamas.
Belgium condemns all acts of conflict related sexual violence.
We reiterate our unswerving support for accountability, justice for victims and survivors, the fight against impunity and full respect for international law.
We urge all parties to uphold their international obligations and to immediately cease all acts of sexual violence.
We call on the parties to uphold specific obligations that are time bound, cooperating fully with the Srsg, as well as other relevant UN entities, as well as to grant unfettered access for monitoring and verification purposes.
The report also clearly states that the demand for assistance continues to outpace available resources.
At this challenging time for the multilateral system, Belgium reaffirms its unstinting support for the mandate of the Srsg for sexual violence in conflict and the outstanding work Miss Paton is doing.
We also welcome the important work of the team of experts on the rule of law and sexual violence and conflict, which works with national authorities to strengthen legal frameworks and build capacity for investigation and the prosecution of these crimes, including through initiatives such as the CRV Prosecution Network, which was launched in March of this year.
Madam president, by way of conclusion our objective must be not only to document, to document and respond to these crimes, but also to prevent them to ensure accountability for perpetrators as well as to provide survivors with lasting access to justice, protection and essential services.
The normative framework already is in place.
What we need now is consistent implementation thereof, adequate resourcing and, above all, the political will to act across all situations without exception.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Belgium for her statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Germany.
Merci beaucoup, Madame Le President.
Thank you very much, Madam President.
Itself with the statements to be delivered by the European Union and the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security.
We We thank the Democratic Republic of the Congo for convening this important debate and we also thank today's Briefers for their sobering reports.
I would like to reiterate Germany's full support for Special Representative Pramila Patten and her team for their vital work in combating sexual violence in conflict.
Her mandate is critical for working with governments on improving national capabilities to deal with sexual violence and ensuring justice for victims.
We are deeply alarmed by the sharp escalation of verified CRS cases in 2025, and yet we have to recognise that the recorded figures represent only a fraction of global reality.
A pervasive social stigma, fear of retaliation and persistent impunity lead to underreporting We strongly condemn Russia's widespread and systematic use of CRS as a weapon of war and a tool of terror in its war of aggression against Ukraine, and welcome that.
This year's report lists the Russian Federation among the parties responsible for patterns of conflict related sexual violence.
We are also appalled by the atrocity magnitude and spread of conflict related sexual violence in Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict, and its use as a tactic to traumatize the civilian population during and in the aftermath of the 7th of October terror attacks.
Hamas committed horrific acts of sexual violence against civilians and hostages that we condemn in the strongest terms.
We are also concerned by the increase in verified CRS cases compared to 2024 in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
We call on all parties to conflict to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, to implement measures to ensure prevention and accountability, and to fully cooperate with the Srsg.
Madam president, allow me to highlight two priorities for Germany in this regard.
First, we must ensure accountability.
If we don't, impunity dismantles the rule of law.
Fuel cycles of vengeance and drives long term regional instability.
That is why we reaffirm our commitment to strengthen national and international criminal jurisdictions, such as the ICC, as donor to the Srsv Multi-partner Trust Fund.
Germany supports the work of the team of experts in, among others, Ukraine, Syria and the DRC, and we also support the Srsv Prosecution Network, a global initiative to support national authorities in investigating and prosecuting this crime.
Second, we have to focus more on a survivor centred approach.
Justice and psychosocial services must be firmly anchored in the rights, needs and autonomy of survivors of Srsv.
Therefore, we reiterate our commitment to a holistic model of survivor care based on Security Council Resolution 2467 care that includes medical and psychosocial support, legal aid and long term economic reintegration, while actively combating the stigmatisation that too often silences victims On this basis, we support civil society organisations who work with, we work with, among others, in Syrian and Sudanese survivors.
Madam president, we have a robust international legal framework to combat these atrocities, but we must urgently improve its implementation to put an end to such violence and to ensure accountability.
Thank you very much.
I thank the representative of Germany for his statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Spain.
Madam president, we thank you for convening this open debate, which highlights the need to continue placing victims and survivors of conflict related sexual violence at the centre of our collective action to combat this scourge.
The figures, contained in the latest report of the Secretary General on conflict related sexual violence are deeply alarming.
In 2025, 9788 cases of conflict related sexual violence were documented, more than double the number recorded the previous year, reflecting a deeply concerning increase in both the scale and severity of these crimes.
Against a backdrop of access restrictions and limited response capacities Spain unequivocally condemns all acts of conflict related sexual violence.
These crimes constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and in certain circumstances, may amount to war crimes.
We must confront this scourge by strengthening prevention, promoting respect for international humanitarian law, and reinforcing the protection of civilians.
It is equally essential to address the structural causes that enable these violations, including gender discrimination inequality, the exclusion of women from peace processes and decision making spaces, and impunity.
Spain's feminist foreign policy, its humanitarian diplomacy, diplomacy strategy and its third national action plan all incorporate this approach to preventing and responding to conflict related sexual violence.
Spain supports all initiatives aimed at ending impunity for the prosecution of these crimes, which have historically been neglected.
We reaffirm our support for the International Criminal Court as a cornerstone in the fight against impunity for international crimes.
Madam president, action against conflict related sexual violence, based on an approach centred on the protection of victims, was at the heart of the discussions on peace and security during the Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policy, hosted by Spain on the second and 3rd of July.
In particular, the political declaration adopted at the conference included among the signatories commitments the obligation to ensure universal, comprehensive and affordable access to sexual and reproductive health services, including in situations of armed conflict and to create environments free from violence for all women and girls.
Through the Financing of Action plans to eliminate all forms of violence against women in both the public and private spheres.
With regard to protection, we must also pay attention to children born of rape in conflict settings in order to combat stigma and facilitate their full integration into their communities.
Providing victims with reparative measures is essential to restoring their dignity and contributing to peace and justice.
In this regard, we wish to highlight the work of the ICC Trust Fund for victims, which allocates part of its assistance and reparations programmes to victims of sexual violence in conflict situations Spain contributes regularly to this fund, providing ?300,000 in 2025.
Spain also supports the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary General on sexual violence in Conflict.
Her work is essential to ensure rigorous, evidence based monitoring of conflict related sexual violence, as well as supporting, protecting and giving visibility to victims.
We are concerned by the current humanitarian funding crisis, which is reducing contributions to her office and to other programmes supporting the protection and recovery of survivors.
Spain will continue to provide regular contributions to the office of the Special Representative.
And finally, the Secretary General's report makes clear that sexual violence occurs repeatedly in situations of detention and deprivation of liberty of freedom.
Spain underscores the importance of guaranteeing access for independent monitoring mechanisms in such settings.
Madam President Spain reiterates its commitment to an approach centred on victims of conflict related sexual violence to strengthen United Nations mechanisms and to coherent international action grounded in international law.
The response of the international community must match the gravity of these crimes.
More prevention, more protection.
More funding, greater participation of women, and, above all, more justice.
Thank you.
Merci.
I thank the representative of Spain for his statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Brazil Madam President.
I'd like to thank the Democratic Republic of the Congo for convening this debate, as well as the Special Representative, Miss Pramila Patten, as well as the representative of Civil society Brazil.
Commends the essential work being done by women led local organisations working with survivors, conflict related sexual violence.
CRV is a serious violation of international law and international humanitarian law.
Furthermore, it undermines peace and reconciliation.
The increase of cases confirmed by the United Nations despite chronic underreporting, calls for an urgent response to be mounted.
The SDGs report reveals the alarming gap between norms and their implementation.
The main challenge is therefore not the lack of norms, but rather their effective implementation.
Technical assistance provided by the UN to national institutions shows that it is possible to achieve tangible results.
The fight against impunity is absolutely vital.
States bear the primary responsibility for investigating these crimes, prosecuting the perpetrators and guaranteeing access to justice as well as effective reparations.
All allegations must be investigated in an independent and impartial fashion, without selectivity nor double standards.
Access to relevant UN mechanisms in affected areas, including occupied territory and in detention settings, must be guaranteed.
Peace agreements, ceasefires and transitional justice mechanisms should address these crimes and progress.
Protect the rights of survivors as well as children born of conflict related rape.
However, justice cannot be limited to criminal proceedings A survivor centred approach must ensure that medical and psychosocial support is provided, including health care services, socio economic assistance and reintegration measures.
Survivors should participate in the crafting of solutions which affect them.
Prevention also requires tackling the root causes of violence, in particular inequality, discriminatory norms and the exclusion of women from decision making processes.
Women's participation they are full, equal, effective and safe.
Participation in peace negotiations is vital if we are to achieve lasting peace.
The multiplication of CRS cases at a time when military spending is reaching global records, should prompt us to double our efforts aimed at conflict prevention, mediation and peace building, all the while ensuring that women fully participate at all stages of the aforementioned processes.
Last but not least, peace operations, transitions, and drawdowns should not create a protection monitoring nor an assistance vacuum.
Transition plans should be endowed with the necessary resources to maintain monitoring mechanisms and specialised capacity.
Budgetary restrictions cannot justify survivors being abandoned.
Madam President Brazil reiterates its commitment to the implementation of the WPS agenda, as well as full respect for international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians and a zero tolerance policy vis a vis conflict related sexual violence.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Brazil for his statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Cyprus.
Madam President.
At the outset, allow me to congratulate the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month, and express our sincere appreciation for convening today's important debate.
We also welcome the participation of the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Her Excellency Mrs.
Judith Sumana Toluca.
We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patton, for her insightful briefing and reiterate our full support for her mandate.
We also thank Mrs.
Jocelyn for her remarks.
Cyprus aligns with the statement to be delivered by the European Union, but allow me to share the following in my national capacity.
The Secretary-General's latest report once again reminds us of the alarming scale and brutality of conflict related sexual violence.
These crimes continue to be used as tactics of war, terrorism, torture and political repression, devastating the lives of individuals and communities while undermining prospects for sustainable peace.
Cyprus unequivocally condemns all forms of gender based violence online and offline, including conflict related sexual violence.
We recalled the rape and other forms of sexual violence may constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity or acts of genocide under international law.
Ensuring accountability for these crimes is therefore not only a legal obligation, but also a prerequisite for prevention and lasting peace.
Allow me to highlight three key points.
First, survivors must remain at the centre of all our efforts.
Women, girls, men and boys experience these crimes differently and require tailored gender and age responsive, disability inclusive and trauma informed support.
They must have safe and timely access to justice, legal assistance, health care, psychosocial services and effective reparations free from stigma and fear of reprisals.
Second, impunity must end.
We call on all states to strengthen national capacities to investigate and prosecute conflict related sexual violence, while ensuring victim centred justice processes.
Existing Security Council sanctions regimes should also be fully utilized to reinforce accountability, deter future violations and send a clear message that perpetrators will be held responsible for their crimes.
Furthermore, we underline the indispensable role of women protection advisors and women led local organisations in prevention, early warning and survivor assistance.
Their work must be adequately resourced and protected, particularly during transitions or drawdowns of United Nations peacekeeping operations.
Third, sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women.
The women peace and security agenda remains our strongest framework for advancing women's leadership in conflict prevention, peace building, and recovery.
At the time of increasing humanitarian needs and shrinking resources, our collective responsibility is to ensure the effective implementation of all P.
S commitments.
Madam president, Cyprus remains firmly committed to advancing the women peace and security agenda, both nationally and internationally.
Earlier this year, we adopted our second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, reaffirming our commitment to the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions.
The new action plan strengthens measures on participation, protection, prevention and relief and recovery while placing greater emphasis on gender mainstreaming across national security and foreign policy.
Beyond our national efforts, we continue to support women and girls affected by conflict through targeted humanitarian assistance and development cooperation through Cyprus aid.
We contribute to humanitarian relief while promoting gender responsive approaches that address the specific needs of women and girls in crisis situations.
As a victim of foreign military invasion and ongoing occupation by Turkey for over five decades Cyprus knows firsthand the devastating and long lasting consequences of conflict related sexual violence.
During the 1974 Turkish invasion, hundreds of women and girls, as well as men and boys were subjected to sexual violence by Turkish troops.
The suffering of those survivors remain and remains an open wound for Cypriot society, and continues to strengthen our unwavering commitment to recognition, justice, accountability and support for survivors everywhere.
An important step towards preserving historical memory and raising awareness at the European and international level is today's adoption of a dedicated resolution by the European Parliament condemning the sexual violence committed by the Turkish troops during the invasion, and calling for accountability and support for survivors.
Madam president, allow me to conclude by stressing that honouring the promise of international law requires more than declarations It requires concrete action to protect survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, address the root causes of sexual violence, and ensure that these crimes never become an accepted consequence of conflict.
Cyprus stands ready to continue working with international community to strengthen the global response to conflict related sexual violence and to fully implement the women peace and security agenda.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Cyprus for her statement.
I now give the floor to Stavros Lambrinidis, head of the delegation of the European Union to the United Nations.
Madam president.
Thank you, Madam President.
On behalf of the European Union, as member states, the candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Andorra and San Marino align themselves with this statement.
We thank the Democratic Republic of the Congo for organising today's open debate, as well as today's briefers.
For the sobering remarks, we reiterate our strong support for the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence and Conflict and her team in delivering on their important mandate.
We commend their continued commitment to objective and evidence based reporting in the implementation of this mandate.
Colleagues, we should all be deeply alarmed by the escalation in the volume and brutality of conflict related sexual violence reflected in the report, with the real numbers probably being much higher, as so many have spoken about in this room today due to the significant underreporting.
We are gravely concerned by conflict related sexual violence committed by state actors, terrorist organisations and armed groups wherever and whenever it occurs be it in Central African Republic, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Sudan or elsewhere.
The gaps in services to survivors, the limited capacities of the UN system to address and to report violations, and the persistent impunity reflected in the report are not just disturbing.
And of course they are.
They underscore the urgent need to strengthen prevention, protection and accountability.
Colleagues, it should go without saying that permanent members of the Security Council bear a special responsibility to maintain international peace and security, and in doing so, to uphold and promote respect for international law.
The fact that the report lists for the first time, Russian armed and security forces for committing conflict related sexual violence against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war in the context of the illegal and unjustified Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, must therefore justifiably be especially highlighted.
The EU condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia's continued violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in Ukraine, including the systematic and widespread use of rape and other conflict related sexual and gender based violence by Russia as a weapon of war.
We reaffirm the EU's commitment to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, including investigations by the office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and for the rights of victims to justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition to be upheld.
The Secretary General's report continues to list Hamas for sexual violence against civilians and hostages during and in the aftermath of the 7th October terror attacks.
It also lists this year, for the first time, the Israeli armed and security forces for cases of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees.
We call upon all parties to comply with their obligations under international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
We underlined that there must be steps to prevent and address sexual violence.
There must be access granted for UN investigations, and there must be accountability and access to justice for all victims.
Madam president, all parties assessed in this report must heed the call of the Secretary-General to cease acts of sexual violence, take measures to address and prevent its occurrence.
Allow unfettered access to relevant UN bodies for monitoring purposes and cooperate with relevant entities.
For example, the report highlights the engagement of the DRC with the Special Representative and the subsequent downward trend of cases attributed to the Congolese National Police.
Colleagues.
Without strong accountability, the negative trend of sexual violence in conflict reflected in the report can only get worse.
Efforts must continue, therefore, to end impunity and ensure accountability for all violations and abuses of international law, including international human rights and international humanitarian law, wherever they take place to prevent recurrence and to break cycles of violence.
The European Union and its member states apply this principle consistently, including by holding our own armed forces, missions and operations accountable through a code of conduct.
The same standard should apply to all actors.
Allegations of conflict related sexual violence must be investigated thoroughly, independently and without delay wherever they occur.
Madam president, the EU remains strongly committed to the prevention and elimination of conflict related sexual violence, as well as to guaranteeing a gender responsive, survivor centred and trauma informed approach in all efforts.
In this spirit, and in conclusion, the EU supports UN action against sexual violence in conflict.
The Global Survivor Fund, as well as gender based violence prevention and response in Ukraine, Mali, Cameroon, Sudan and elsewhere.
We believe the focus must remain firmly forward looking in addressing conflict related sexual violence.
We will continue to do our part and call on the international community to do the same.
Thank you.
G.
I thank Ambassador Lambrinidis for his statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Czechia.
Merci.
Madam president, the Czech Republic would like to thank the Democratic Republic of the Congo for convening this important debate, and we are grateful to the Briefers for their presentations.
Conflict related sexual violence remains one of the gravest violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
The Secretary General's latest report once again confirms a deeply troubling trend that has persisted for years.
Verified cases of sexual violence continue to rise and impunity endures.
Today's debate rightly focuses on honouring the promise of international law to survivors.
That promise must be reflected not only in our words but also in our concrete actions.
First, survivors must be at the heart of our response not merely as beneficiaries of assistance, but as partners and agents of change.
We must ensure access to the full range of services health care, including sexual and reproductive health services, psychological support, legal assistance and long term support for reintegration.
The Czech Republic continues to support projects addressing gender based violence in conflict and post-conflict settings, and to assist survivors, among them Ukrainian refugees through integrated support services.
Support for local and women led organisations should remain a priority, as they are often the first responders and the most trusted providers of assistance Mr.
president, second, accountability is indispensable Conflict related sexual violence must never be allowed to become a crime committed with impunity.
Respect for international humanitarian and criminal law, together with survivor centered approaches to justice, is essential to deter future violations and to support survivors.
We encourage the Security Council to make full use of the tools at its disposal, including by integrating gender considerations into mission mandates and by applying targeted sanctions.
We also wish to reiterate the importance of monitoring, reporting and accountability mechanisms, including the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary General and Women Protection Advisors.
Third, as a United Nations Peace operations transition or drawdown, we must avoid protection gaps that increase the risk of sexual violence and undermine support for survivors Sustainable and properly resourced national capacities.
Continued integration, engagement and support for local service providers are all essential if prevention, monitoring and assistance are to be maintained.
Finally, we reaffirm that the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in peace and security processes is essential to preventing and addressing conflict related sexual violence.
Civil society to has a vital role to play in prevention, in service delivery and in ensuring accountability.
The Czech Republic remains committed to the full implementation of the women, Peace and Security agenda, and to ensuring that survivors of conflict related sexual violence receive the protection justice and support they all deserve.
I thank you.
President I thank the representative of Czechia, and I now give the floor to the representative of El Salvador.
Thank you very much, Mr.
President.
El Salvador thanks you for convening this open debate and aligns itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished delegation of Canada on behalf of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security, my country condemns in the strongest possible terms conflict related sexual violence, whether it is used as a tactic of war, an instrument of torture, a method of political repression, a tool of terrorism, or a mechanism for controlling communities and territories.
The resolutions of this council have recognized that conflict related sexual violence does not occur in isolation.
It forms part of a broader pattern of interconnected and recurring violence against women and girls, which may intensify before, during and after conflicts, particularly where exclusion, impunity and the absence of essential protection services persist.
Accordingly, in addressing this issue, the council must look beyond its immediate manifestations and also consider the factors that enable and perpetuate it.
This requires recognizing the direct link between protection and participation.
Sexual violence limits the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in public life, in peace processes and in reconstruction and in turn, the exclusion of women from these spaces weakens efforts aimed at prevention, protection and accountability.
Mr.
president, the Secretary-General's latest report confirms an alarming reality.
Verified cases increased significantly in 2025 amid protracted conflicts.
Restrictions on humanitarian access, attacks against frontline actors, and reductions in vital services.
We also know that these figures do not reflect the true scale of the problem, as many victims are afraid to come forward because of the lack of guarantees.
Against this backdrop, El Salvador would like to highlight five priorities.
Firstly, peace operations and other United Nations presences must be provided with sufficient capacity to prevent, monitor and respond to this violence.
This includes the timely deployment of women's protection advisers, including during mission transitions, drawdowns and reconfigurations.
It is of concern that these specialists are currently deployed in only nine of the more than 20 situations covered in the Secretary-General's report.
Secondly, threats and attacks against humanitarian personnel, United Nations personnel, women's organisations and service providers must be prevented and punished.
Greater attention must also be paid to digital threats, misogynistic hate speech and online intimidation aimed at silencing women and restricting their participation Thirdly, conflict related sexual violence should be systematically incorporated as a standalone designation criterion in all relevant sanctions regimes.
The repeated inclusion of perpetrators in the Secretary-General's reports year after year cannot continue without consequences.
Fourthly, accountability must remain at the heart of our response.
Investigations and judicial proceedings must be independent impartial and victim centred, regardless of the rank or affiliation of the perpetrators Also, survivors must have genuine access to justice, medical care, psychosocial support, effective reparations and guarantees of non-repetition.
Justice cannot remain an unattainable privilege for those who have already endured the unimaginable.
Fifth, arms control frameworks must be strengthened.
Arms transfers should be halted when there is a clear risk that the weapons may be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law, or acts of violence against women and girls.
The widespread availability and proliferation of small arms and light weapons have facilitated, including in our own region, criminal groups involvement in trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Finally, in the context of the UN 80 initiative and the consolidation and austerity measures arising from financial constraints, El Salvador underscores that any reform must preserve the capacity of the United Nations to prevent violence and to protect those in need.
For a person at risk or for a survivor, a reduction in resources may mean the absence of a preventive presence on the ground.
It may mean the inability to obtain timely medical care or to receive psychosocial support, or not have protection against reprisals, or not having a safe place to turn to after suffering violence.
Institutional efficiency must strengthen, not weaken, our collective capacity to prevent violence, to protect victims and accompany them on their path to recovery.
Justice and dignity.
Thank you very much.
I thank the representative of El Salvador.
I now give the floor to the representative of Slovenia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Let me congratulate you on assuming the presidency.
And also thank you for organising today's open debate.
I also thank Special Representative of the Secretary General, Miss Paton, for her report and for briefing today, and most of all, for her dedication and commitment to the survivors of the conflict related violence.
We also thank Miss Jocelyn for her contribution to this important debate.
Slovenia aligns itself with the statements delivered by the European Union and the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security.
Mr.
president, we are deeply concerned by the findings of this latest report.
Sexual violence continues to rise, including as a tactic of war, torture and terrorism.
We know the UN recorded cases doubled in 2025 compared to the year before.
Mr.
president, let me use this opportunity to highlight the following points of particular importance for the work of this esteemed council.
First, insist on accountability.
Accountability for conflict related sexual violence.
Perpetrators must be held accountable through strong national rule of law institutions or through international courts such as the International Criminal Court.
Effective prosecution of international crimes requires robust mechanisms for mutual legal assistance, evidence sharing, cross-border coordination, extradition and protection of witnesses and victims such as provided by the Ljubljana The Hague Convention.
Second, use UN sanctions regimes to ensure compliance with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
The council designation should consistently be applied against all persistent perpetrators of conflict related sexual violence.
Third, deploy and maintain women's protection advisers in all situations of concern.
Their timely and reliable information and analysis of conflict related sexual violence, their engagement with parties to conflict, and formulation of victim and survivor centred responses to these crimes are invaluable.
We recall the need to ensure comprehensive medical care and services, psychosocial support and legal assistance to victims and survivors.
We reaffirm the need to support the work of women's organisations, local civil society, health care providers and human rights defenders in this context.
Slovenia reiterate our strong support for the mandate and work of the Srsg on sexual violence in conflict and her office, as well as the team of experts on the rule of law and the UN Action Against Sexual Violence in conflict.
Slovenia continues to support the mandates through 2026.
Contribution to the Conflict Related Sexual Violence Prevention Multi-partner Trust Fund.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Slovenia.
I now give the floor to the representative of Italy.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the Democratic Republic of Congo for convening this timely and important open debate.
Italy reaffirms its steadfast support for the Special Representative of the Secretary General on sexual violence in conflict and her team as they carry out their mandate.
The annual report remains a vital contribution by the United Nations to the documentation of and response to conflict related sexual violence.
Italy aligns itself with the statements of the European Union and of the Group of friends on women, peace and security.
26 years after the adoption of resolution 1325 and more than 15 years since the establishment of the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, we are gathered here to honour a promise that remains for too many survivors unfulfilled.
The trend documented in the Secretary General's report is alarming.
Verified cases of conflict related sexual violence have risen sharply, marked by extreme brutality and overwhelmingly targeting women and girls.
Furthermore, we know these figures capture only a fraction of the reality given the chronic underreporting driven by stigma, fear of reprisal, and the absence of or inadequacy of all available services.
Behind every number is a survivor.
Was access to health care, justice and reparation is too often obstructed by the very crisis escalating and proliferating armed conflicts, deepening humanitarian emergencies, compounding climate and food related crisis that made them a victim in the first place.
Mr.
president, honouring the promise, the promise of international law and the Security Council's normative framework, developed throughout the years, means closing the persistent gap between norms and their implementation.
First on accountability.
Impunity must never be the default.
Italy supports the integration of sexual violence expertise within section monitoring groups, and continues to sustain the work of national justice systems in ensuring survivor centred investigations and transformative reparations.
Second, on protection, the drawdown of United Nations peace operations must never translate into protection vacuum.
We advocate for deliberate transition planning that safeguards monitoring, reporting and assistance capacities, including through the continued deployment of women's protection advisers in all relevant situations of concern.
Third, on survivors themselves, they must be recognised not only as victims but as authors proposing concrete and effective solutions that concern them.
This means investing, investing in a comprehensive services, medical, psychological, legal and socio economic and ensuring that children born of conflict related rape and sexual violence are protected from the layered stigma, discrimination and exclusion that they all too often experience.
This also entails involving survivors directly in policy formulation and decision making processes, ensuring that the survivor centred approach becomes a tangible reality rather than a mere aspiration.
Mr.
president, at a time of considerable financial strain across the UN system, Italy wishes to underscore the importance of preserving CRS prevention and response as part of the Women Peace and Security agenda.
We encourage Member States to continue prioritising support for survivor centred programming, as well as for women led civil society organisations whose proximity to affected communities makes them invaluable partners.
Let us honor the promises that are made to survivors by ensuring that justice is not merely pledged, but delivered today.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the representative of Italy.
I now give the floor to the representative of South Africa.
Okay.
Thank you very much, Mr.
President.
Allow me to take this opportunity to to salute the sister republic of the Democratic Republic of Congo for assuming the presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of July, and at the same time to welcome the convening of this annual debate, the first during the presidency of the DRC, signaling the importance the DRC attaches to conflict related sexual violence and allow me at the same time to also thank the the Briefers for their insightful presentations.
Mr.
president, conflict related sexual violence remains one of the gravest violations of international law, which occurs with regularity.
With an increasing number of verified cases.
Bearing in mind the significance of underreporting of such cases, this is because victims and survivors continue to face insecurity, stigma and deep physical and psychological scars long after conflicts end.
South Africa is deeply concerned about the sharp increase in verified cases, as indicated in the UN Secretary General's annual report.
Therefore, honouring the promise of international law requires sustained prevention, accountability, victim and survivor centred support during UN peace operations and after their drawdown.
Mr.
president, the UN peace support operations provide an important lifeline and protection mechanism to prevent cases of sexual violence.
Yet they lack the full capacity to deal with this core mandate requirement.
South Africa calls for continued support for the deployment of women's protection advisers, as well as gender advisers, to address the full spectrum of CRC related cases, including rape, gang rape, abductions and sexual slavery, as well as other heinous crimes.
These violations of international law tend to have a lasting psychosocial impact long after their perpetration.
We are therefore also concerned about the security, assistance and monitoring gaps created during transitions from peace missions that heightened risks of sexual violence and weakened national protection systems.
CRV mandates must therefore be sustainably transferred to national and regional actors, including continuity in monitoring and reporting, early warning capacities and support for national investigations.
Mr.
president, South Africa emphasizes the imperative for protection of frontline service providers, health workers, justice actors, women led organisations and women human rights defenders who face heightened risks of attacks and reprisals, peace operations, sanctions regimes and national protection strategies must explicitly address these threats through protective accompaniment, rapid response mechanisms, and confidential reporting channels.
Member states, UN entities and international organisations should adopt concrete measures to ensure timely protection, assistance, reparations and long term reintegration support for survivors and children born of rape.
These include predictable financing for survivor and survivor centred services, accessible reparation programmes, strengthened national justice systems and sustained livelihood.
Mr.
president, the Security Council and international community must enhance political commitment and financing of Ccr5 mandate, including through strengthened partnerships with women led and local organisations.
These actors are indispensable to prevention, monitoring and victim and survivor support and must receive direct, flexible and long term funding.
With the focus of this debate on honouring the promise of international law.
It is imperative that the Security Council should enhance its mechanisms for preventing impunity and holding those who commit the myriad of Ccr5 acts accountable, including the unconscionable and ever increasing use of Ccr5 as a deliberate weapon of war.
The full implementation of Security Council Resolution two, four, six seven is essential in this respect, as it calls for accountability and justice, including investigating.
Prosecuting and punishing perpetrators.
Resolution 2476 significantly moved beyond viewing survivors as only victims, but places greater emphasis on their agency protection, participation and long term recovery.
However, we regret the lack of attention in the resolution on sexual and reproductive health services and urge the council not to regress in its women peace and security obligation, including the focus on the gender dimension.
In conclusion, as we mark almost 26 years since resolution 1325 was adopted, South Africa calls for protection, justice and reparations for survivors.
We stand ready to work with all partners to ensure that international law protects, empowers and restores the dignity of those who have enjoyed grave violations, I thank you.
I thank the representative of South Africa.
I now give the floor to the representative of Japan.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the Democratic Republic of the Congo for convening this important open debate.
I also thank Srsg Parton for your sobering briefing.
Survivors access to justice for conflict related sexual violence is severely limited when judicial systems are not fully established, particularly in situations where public infrastructure itself is fragile due to conflict or political instability.
Such conditions make it extremely exceed exceedingly difficult to implement a survivor centred approach mandated by Security Council Resolution 2467.
To break the cycle of impunity, respect for the rule of law and accountability for perpetrators are indispensable.
Japan strongly prioritizes capacity building for legal professionals and strengthening of justice related organizations, which requires coordinated efforts by member states and the UN system.
Mr.
president, human rights monitors and humanitarian personnel continue to bravely work on the front lines, including in conflict zones.
To realise the survivor centred approach, ensuring their physical and psychological safety is also essential for the prevention and elimination of and response to Srsv.
Japan calls upon all parties to allow and facilitate full, rapid, safe, immediate and sustained humanitarian access and to ensure the protection of humanitarian personnel in accordance with the relevant international humanitarian law.
Japan also recognises the critical role played by women's protection advisers deployed under UN peace operation mandates in the prevention of and response to Srsv Japan.
Does cause need to full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women in peace building, aiming and aiming at inclusion of CRC survivors.
Japan has launched a project in Democratic Republic of the Congo to strengthen survivors access to justice for CRC in collaboration with the office of SR partners.
Through this project, Japan is working to enhance accountability mechanisms by promoting the registration of CRC cases with judicial authorities in conflict, conflict affected areas, and by providing providing technical and logistical support for investigation, investigations and prosecutions of cross-border cases.
The survivor centred approach goes beyond survivors access to justice.
Japan has implemented comprehensive CRC response tailored to survivors needs in Mali, Sudan and Central African Republic.
Addressing medical and psychological support, as well as social and economic reintegration.
Ensuring survivors access to justice during and after conflict.
Conflict contributes to restoring and affirming their dignity.
This is encapsulated in the human security approach that Japan has long advocated.
Preserving human dignity through protection and empowerment.
Mr.
president, Japan remains committed to the WPA agenda and to combating impunity.
Standing with survivors of CRC and communities affected by violent conflict, and reaffirms its strong support for the leadership of Srsg Patten and her office.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Japan.
I now give the floor to the representative of Angola.
Mr.
President, distinguished members of the Security Council At the outset, Angola congratulates the Democratic Republic of Congo on convening this timely open debate and thank the Secretary General for his comprehensive report.
We also express our appreciation to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence and Conflict in conflict and the other Briefers for their valuable insights.
The Secretary General Report presents a deeply alarming picture the significant increase of conflict related sexual violence in 2025 confirms that these crimes continue to be used as tactics of war, terrorism, torture, and political repression, inflicting devastating consequences on individuals, families and communities while undermining peace and security.
Women and girls remain the primary victims, while men and boys are also affected, often remaining invisible due to the stigma, fear and limited access to support services.
Conflict related sexual violence constitutes a serious violation of international monetary law, international human rights law and, where applicable, international criminal law.
Honouring the promise of international law requires translating legal obligations into concrete actions.
Mr.
president, protecting civilians requires moving from reactive response to preventive strategies.
In this regard, we wish to highlight four priorities.
First, survivors must remain at the centre of all prevention and response efforts.
They should have timely, safe and non-discriminatory access to comprehensive medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance and, where appropriate, sexual and reproductive health care, while fully respecting their dignity, rights and choices.
Second, accountability is essential all parties to the armed conflict must comply with international law and the relevant Security Council resolutions.
National justice systems should be strengthened to investigate and prosecute these crimes, effectively ensuring that the perpetrators are held accountable and impunity is not tolerated.
Thirdly, the international community should ensure predictable and sustainable financing for programmes supporting survivors Angola is deeply concerned that the current funding reductions are weakening essential protection and assistance services in conflict affected settings.
Fourth, preventing conflict related sexual violence must remain an integral component of conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping, peace building and security sector reform.
Lasting peace cannot be achieved while these crimes remain unaddressed.
Mr.
president, Angola reaffirms the importance of the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, and subsequent relevant resolutions ensuring the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women in peace processes, decision making and post-conflict recovery is not only a matter of right, but also a prerequisite for sustainable peace and effective conflict prevention.
In conclusion, Angola calls upon all parties to the armed conflict To fully respect international humanitarian law.
The international human rights law protect civilians, particularly women and children and immediately end the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war, terrorism, torture, and political repression.
By strengthening accountability, supporting survivors, reinforcing national institutions, and deepening international cooperation, we can honor the promise of international law and advance our shared responsibility to prevent conflict related sexual violence and build lasting peace.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Angola.
I now give the floor to the representative of Timor-Leste.
President Timor Leste welcomes this important debate on conflict related sexual violence under the theme honouring the promise of International law to survivors of conflict related sexual violence.
We thank the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo for her leadership, and we express our appreciation to the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Madam Pramila Patten, for her tireless commitment to advancing survivor centred justice.
Mr.
president, around the world, in conflict zones documented by the United Nations, regional organisations and civil society networks, conflict related sexual violence continues to be used systematically as a tactic of war, repression and terror.
Women, men, girls and boys have endured rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage, first pregnancy, and sexual torture.
These violations are widespread deliberate and devastating.
These violations constitute some of the gravest crime recognised under international law and continue to leave profound and lasting consequences for survivors and their communities.
However, in many contexts, the decades after the violence occurred, cases remain unresolved and survivors continue to live with the physical, psychological and socio economic consequences of these crimes.
International law provides a clear and powerful framework for justice.
However, as this council has repeatedly recognised, the promise of international law is only meaningful when it is implemented across many conflict affected settings.
Implementation gaps persist despite the work of truth commissions and investigative bodies.
Many survivors continue to face stigma, limited access to effective remedies, and legal, institutional and political barriers to comprehensive support.
Honouring the promise of international law requires opening new horizons and developing innovative venues for action within the international system.
In this context, Timor-Leste offers full practical avenues for consideration.
First, fostering regional platforms to facilitate the exchange of good practices, technical expertise and survivor centred approaches to recognition, reparations, rehabilitation and long term support.
Second, advancing international cooperation for the effective implementation of survivors rights to reparations rehabilitation and comprehensive support.
Recognising that the consequences of conflict related sexual violence often endure long after conflict have ended.
Third, making better use of existing United Nations mechanisms to provide technical assistance to member states and support the integration of survivors centered approaches into national policies and programmes.
Finally, integrating conflict related sexual violence into global development frameworks by incorporating indicators on trauma recovery, access to remedies, survivor economic empowerment and community resilience into beyond GDP and human development metrics.
This will recognise that the consequences of Ccr5 extend far beyond individual harm, with lasting impacts on social cohesion, human capital and national development trajectories.
Mr.
president, the global history of conflict related sexual violence is one of profound suffering, but also of resilience through seeking and moral clarity.
Survivors across conflict zones reminds us that international law provides a promise but not a guarantee.
Honouring that promise requires sustained commitment, innovative international engagement, and survivor centered approaches that transcends traditional justice mechanisms while ensuring that avenues for justice and legal accountability remain available where possible and consistent with international law.
The enduring consequences of conflict related sexual violence are not merely the legacy of past conflicts.
They are a continuing test of whether international law can restore dignity, hope and opportunity to those who have suffered most.
Timor-Leste stands ready to work with this council, with member states and with survivors everywhere, to ensure that the promise of international law is finally fulfilled.
Thank you.
I thank the representative of Timor-Leste.
I now give the floor to the representative of Australia.
Merci, monsieur.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Special representative.
I speak for Canada, New Zealand, and of course my own country, Australia.
And we particularly thank the Democratic Republic of the Congo for Congo for convening this debate.
The Secretary-General's report is stark.
Unverified cases of conflict related sexual violence were marked by extreme brutality and rose sharply in 2025, overwhelmingly targeting women and girls.
These verified cases represent only a fraction of the true scale because stigma, fear of reprisals and lack of support services continue to prevent survivors from coming forward.
Too many survivors and children born of conflict related rape remain invisible.
Too many are denied justice, dignity, care and legal identity with profound intergenerational consequences.
Cairns makes three points.
The first, we must end impunity for conflict related sexual violence.
We must use accountability mechanisms effectively, including through sanctions regimes, domestic systems and other avenues available under the international legal framework.
Second, we must prevent conflict related sexual violence by addressing the conditions that enable it.
This requires gender responsive security sectors, including the deployment of women's protection advisers in peacekeeping and special political missions.
Third, Cairns is committed to practical action.
We must ensure survivors access to sustained, trauma informed support, including mental and medical health services, sexual and reproductive health services, legal aid, livelihood support and transformative reparations.
Protecting survivors also means protecting those who support them.
As signatories to the declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel.
Cairns is taking practical action to strengthen protection of humanitarian workers, helping survivors access the support, protection and justice to which they are entitled under international law.
Cairns is backing that commitment with practical action at national, regional and global levels.
Australia partners with the Global Survivors Fund to provide interim reparations for survivors of CRV and supports the International Gender Justice Practitioner Hub to enhance trauma informed and survivor centred accountability processes.
Like Australia, Canada supports the Global Survivors Fund and strengthens accountability for CRV by supporting United Nations women's deployment of sexual and gender based violence experts to international accountability mechanisms.
New Zealand helps prevent violence against women by supporting initiatives across the Pacific region that strengthen women's leadership in peace and security, improve protection from gender based violence, and integrate women and girls perspectives into security and peace building efforts.
President Cairns urges all member states to act with urgency and resolve to tackle the drivers of conflict related sexual violence, end impunity for perpetrators and provide survivors with the support and the justice that they need.
Thank you.
I thank the representative of Australia for his statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Cambodia.
Mr.
president, agencies.
Distinguished delegates.
Cambodia commends the Democratic Republic of Congo for convening this timely open debate.
And thanks all the Briefers for their important insights.
Conflict related sexual violence brings devastating consequences for all human beings, especially women and girls.
Families and communities.
Such a crime not only violated human rights dignities itself, but also for fundamental principles of international law, including international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and the charter of the United Nations.
Therefore, Cambodia wishes to stress the following points.
First, all parties to conflicts be state or non-state actors must fully comply with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
The rule of engagement, and particularly the knowledge of international humanitarian law, should be widely integrated to all relevant players, both in time of war and of peace.
Second, accountability must be ensured perpetrators to the conflict related sexual violence must not be left untouched.
They must be investigated and prosecuted through fair, credible and survivor sensitive judicial processes.
Such accountability is essential to break the cycle of impunity and deter future violence violations, and affirm the dignity and rights of those who died and survived.
Third, a survivor centric approach must be at the centre of all responses medical factors, psychological, social and legal support, reparation of long term reintegration and transitional justice must be timely, accessible without discrimination and taken into consideration of the durable peace.
In conclusion, Cambodia reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the women's peace and security agendas to build a world where sexual violence is never tolerated and human dignity is protected, whether in time of war or in time of peace.
Thank you.
I thank the representative of Cambodia and give the floor to Estonia.
President Estonia aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and the statement of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security.
We thank the Democratic Republic of the Congo for convening this open debate and all the briefers for their valuable insights.
Conflict related sexual violence is not an inevitable byproduct of war.
It is a deliberate crime used as a tactic of war, terror, torture and repression.
Its consequences do not end when the wars and conflicts end.
They last for years, often haunting the survivors for a lifetime.
The Secretary general's report makes clear that this is a global crisis.
Documented cases rose sharply in 2025 and were marked by extreme brutality in the DRC, Sudan, Myanmar, Haiti and elsewhere.
Conflict related sexual violence continues to devastate individuals and communities.
We are particularly concerned by the high volume of incidents attributed to state actors.
For the first time, armed and security forces of a permanent member of this council are listed in the annex of the Secretary General's Report for committed conflict related sexual violence against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war.
As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia bears a particular responsibility to uphold international peace and security.
Yet it continues to attack the very foundations of the UN charter.
We underlined that Hamas continues to be listed among parties credibly suspected of being responsible for conflict related sexual violence.
The secretary general has also included Israeli armed and security forces in the list in relation to incidents attributed to them.
Estonia unequivocally condemns all acts of conflict related sexual violence, regardless of the perpetrator.
There is no justification for the use of sexual violence under any circumstances.
President.
Accountability is essential to ending conflict related sexual violence.
Impunity allows these crimes to continue and must be brought to an end.
International humanitarian law, human rights law, and international criminal law must be upheld.
All allegations must be investigated promptly, independently and impartially, and perpetrators must be held accountable regardless of rank or affiliation.
Estonia supports all efforts to document, investigate and prosecute these crimes, including through cooperation with the International Criminal Court and other international accountability mechanisms.
In this regard, we welcome the launch of the global CRS Prosecution Network and Community of Practice and have the honour to announce that Estonia has joined the network.
Estonia reaffirms its unwavering support to the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Pramila Patten, and the team of experts on the rule of law and sexual violence in conflict.
We condemn all attacks against the Special Representatives of the Secretary-General and the UN architecture that is intended to protect all people from atrocity crimes.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Estonia and give the floor to the representative of Finland.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic countries Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Finland.
We thank the Democratic Republic of Congo for convening this debate.
We commend the Special Representative of the Secretary General on sexual violence in conflict, Pramila Patten, for your leadership and your impressive and sustained efforts to prevent and address conflict related sexual violence.
We should all be extremely alarmed that the UN verified cases of conflict related sexual violence continue to rise sharply, often marked by extreme brutality.
Persistent under-reporting means that these numbers are likely to represent only the tip of the iceberg.
President, sexual violence in conflict, endangers lives, inflicts profound trauma on individuals, and shatters communities with consequences that can endure for generations.
It constitutes a grave violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.
Using sexual violence in warfare is a war crime and may also constitute a crime against humanity or an act of genocide.
Rape must never be considered as some kind of inevitable consequence of war.
The Nordic countries are deeply concerned by the growing number of national armed and security forces listed in the Secretary General's report.
We call on all parties to conflict, to cease all forms of sexual violence and fully comply with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
This is a question of leadership.
The entire chain of command in any conflict must know and respect the rules and make sure others do as well.
Prevention remains our primary objective.
This requires addressing root causes, gender inequality, discrimination, and the exclusion of women from political and peace processes.
For survivors, we emphasize access to justice and comprehensive support, including sexual and reproductive health care.
Accountability is necessary for justice, which must underpin prevention and find ways to reconciliation.
It requires credible investigations, national prosecution and cooperation with international courts, especially the ICC.
We welcome initiatives such as the global network of Prosecutors and Practitioners, which help close accountability gaps and demonstrate the international community's resolve to address Ccr5.
Nordic countries also support the call to action on protection from gender based violence in emergencies.
The Global political initiative to strengthen system wide accountability transform the way gender based violence is addressed, and empower national and local women led organisations and other CSOs, often the first and last responders.
President.
The Nordic countries reaffirm strong support to the women, peace and security agenda and for UN mechanisms.
Implementing Security Council Resolution 1888, including the work of the Special Representative Patten and the team of experts, gender advisers and women's protection advisers in UN operations play an indispensable role.
Without them, Security Council commitments risk remaining words on paper.
The council should send an unequivocal message sexual violence is a serious crime, not a tactic, and those responsible will always be held fully accountable.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Finland.
I now give the floor to the representative of Croatia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Croatia aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security.
And I would like to add a few remarks in my national capacity.
I thank the Democratic Republic of the Congo, all the briefers, for their valuable insights, and especially Representative Patten, for this important report highlighting human suffering and serious violations of human dignity caused by conflict related sexual violence.
Despite strong normative frameworks recognising it as a threat to international peace and security, conflict related sexual violence continues to increase every year.
It is becoming more brutal, with a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable, and it is affecting all women, men, girls and boys, especially those in displacement and detention detention settings.
We are witnessing new alarming trends, including growing attacks on humanitarian workers, threats to human rights defenders and even survivors who are increasingly experiencing harassment and intimidation in the digital space.
While today's security environment is becoming more complex, our responsibilities remain clear.
First, we must firmly support the Srsg.
S call to end all forms of conflict related sexual violence.
We encourage states to align their laws with international humanitarian and human rights law, and to monitor compliance with relevant council resolutions.
Next, in fragile and conflict affected settings, protecting civilians and ensuring safe access to medical and psychological care for survivors are essential.
This must be complemented by a robust accountability, comprehensive reparations and sustainable integration programmes.
As an example, survivors of sexual violence perpetrated during the Croatian homeland war are entitled to financial reparations and special care, even if the perpetrators are never found or brought to justice.
We stand ready to share our practices and experiences.
Justice for survivors must remain a priority, firm in our conviction that impunity must never be the norm.
Croatia is proud to announce that we are joining the seizures of prosecution network, contributing to stronger accountability mechanisms for these crimes.
And finally, the report highlights the serious consequences of funding cuts, which weaken prevention efforts and erode trust in institutions We call on all member states to sustain financial support, especially for civil society and women's organisations at local level.
And let me conclude, Mr.
President, by emphasizing that prevention begins in times of peace, by eliminating gender inequalities and harmful social norms.
These efforts are crucial and more likely to endure when supported by the full and meaningful participation of women in political and peace building processes.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Croatia.
I now give the floor to the representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Mr.
president, the Kingdom of the Netherlands aligns itself with the statements of the European Union and Group of friends on women, peace and security.
Conflict related sexual violence is a totally unacceptable weapon of war and catastrophic for survivors, communities and future generations.
We are deeply alarmed that conflict related sexual violence continues to be perpetrated with impunity.
I will make three points.
One on accountability, two on essential health services, and three funding for survivor and women led organisations, including civil society and survivor networks.
First, accountability if perpetrators face no consequences, conflict related sexual violence will not stop.
Accountability efforts must be survivor centered.
Impunity not only denies justice, it retraumatising survivors.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands, therefore, stresses the need to address sexual and gender based violence in all accountability mechanisms and criminal proceedings.
We support the mandate of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, and the team of experts in advancing accountability.
At the same time, justice must go beyond criminal trials.
Survivor centred justice should include reparations, recognition of harm and access to mental health and psychosocial support In Sudan, credible reports of systematic and widespread conflict related sexual violence in and around Al-fashir are alarming.
Now, hundreds of thousands of civilians are at risk in Al-obeid.
These violations must be put to an end.
Also, the ongoing violations by Russia and Ukraine, including in a temporary occupied territories, must cease immediately, as documented in the Secretary General's reports.
In this slide, we reject the claims and characterizations made by the Russian Federation in today's debate.
Mr.
president, my second point is on essential health services.
Survivors need immediate and comprehensive care, access to sexual and reproductive health services, including safe abortion is vital and life saving.
These services must be prioritized in every humanitarian crisis.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands remains a steadfast donor to organizations such as IPAs and the International Planned Parenthood Federation, which provides these services in conflict settings.
Mr.
president, my third and last point is on funding for survivor and women led organisations.
Women and survivors are often the first responders running shelters, providing psychosocial support and holding communities together.
Yet their organisations remain structurally underfunded.
This week, the Netherlands launched the FEM focus Grant instrument to fund women's rights organisations in West Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Mena region.
We urge member states to provide multi-year, flexible and direct financing to these organisations and survivor networks.
My country, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, remains, Mr.
President, firmly committed to combating conflict related sexual violence and to ensuring that survivors are at the centre of our collective response.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of the Netherlands.
I now give the floor to the representative of Nepal.
Thank you, Mr.
President Let me begin by thanking the presidency of Democratic Republic of Congo for convening today's open debate on this very important issue.
I also thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and other distinguished briefers for their valuable insights.
Mr.
president, conflict related sexual violence has continued to grow in recent years.
The Secretary General's report shows a sobering reality.
The cases of conflict related sexual violence have increased in scale and in brutality, while protected conflicts, shrinking humanitarian access, persistent impunity, underreporting and funding shortfalls continue to deny survivors justice protections and recovery.
We strongly denounce the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war, terrorism and political repressions.
We reaffirm our steadfast support for the Security Council's landmark resolution 1325 and 1820, and the broader women Peace and security architecture aimed at ending sexual violence in the conflict.
Mr.
president, let me highlight a few priorities for our collective actions.
First, we must end impunity and hold the perpetrators into account.
This requires stronger political commitment, good faith, implementation of international legal obligations and inclusive partnerships.
We underscore adhering to the international humanitarian law, international human rights law and relevant Security Council resolutions whilst effectively enforcing existing sanctions regimes against the perpetrators.
Second, prevention should remain a priority.
A whole of society approach with full, equal and meaningful participation of women in conflict, prevention, in peace process, in peace building and in security sector Governance is indispensable to ensuring sustainable peace, justice and development.
We should address root causes of the conflict, strengthen gender responsive early warning systems and early response mechanisms, and ensure specialised pre-deployment and in-mission training for peacekeepers on conflict related sexual violence.
Third, potential risk of conflict related sexual violence during transition and drawdown must be addressed as an integral component of peace operations and political processes.
Peace agreements, ceasefires and political settlements should explicitly prohibit conflict related sexual violence, exclude such crimes from amnesties, and integrate protection measures for survivors, witnesses, and frontline service providers.
Fourth, ensuring safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access and comprehensive psycho social services is vital.
Survivors should have timely access to comprehensive health care, including sexual and reproductive health services, psychosocial support, legal assistance, livelihood opportunities, and long term socio economic reintegration.
Children born of conflict related rape also deserve equal protections, legal recognition and opportunities to live free from stigma and discrimination.
The member States, humanitarian partners and UN should strengthen coordination with national and local actors in this respect.
Finally, strengthened global cooperation and adequate financing are essential to sustain prevention and response efforts.
Without stronger political will and sustained financial resources, global commitments cannot turn into protective shields.
The international community must significantly scale up support for survivors centred services, ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health care, psychosocial and legal assistance, and socio economic reintegration.
Mr.
president, Nepal has been a proactive promoter of women, peace and security agenda.
Nepal has achieved significant progress in advancing Wfp's agenda, including through the meaningful participation of women in governance.
The second Wfp's National Action Plan, adopted in 2022, incorporates the concerns of sexual violence survivors, female combatants and children born of wartime rape.
Following the 2026 signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord, Nepal is pursuing conflict related sexual violence cases to ensure accountability for perpetrators and access to justice with reparations for survivors is one of the largest troop and police contributing countries to the UN peacekeeping.
Nepal remains committed to enhancing the participation of women peacekeepers, preventing and strengthening their role on the protection of civilians and the prevention of conflict related sexual violence.
In conclusion, Mr.
President, preventing conflict related sexual violence requires strong political will and an unwavering commitment to prioritize the agenda of international humanitarian and human rights law.
Ensure accountability for perpetrators Invest in early warning and prevention mechanisms.
Empower women and girls as agents of peace and security, and sustain international cooperation and support.
Let us work together to end the scores of conflict related sexual violence and provide every survivor the hope justice and agency they need.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Nepal for your statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Venezuela welcomes the convening of this meeting and reaffirms that honouring the promise of international law to survivors of conflict related sexual violence is a collective obligation arising from the international legal framework.
Also from the mandate of the Security Council and the commitments undertaken by states under the women, Peace and Security Agenda.
Sexual violence, regardless of gender, not only violates human dignity but also constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.
It is employed as an intolerable tactic of war, terror and repression, which we condemn and which must be eradicated through decisive sovereign action and genuine international cooperation to ensure the effective implementation of the existing normative framework.
It is essential to strengthen national legal systems.
There can be no prevention or effective accountability without institutional sovereignty.
It is imperative to harmonise domestic legislation in order to close the gaps that allow impunity to persist, and to ensure that accountability results in transformative reparations and safe environments for survivors The issue of the consequences of sexual violence must be fully incorporated into peace and ceasefire processes, as well as into all disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes in which the United Nations participates.
Mediators and special envoys involved in these processes must be equipped with the necessary training and expertise to address the issue appropriately taking into account the specific context.
In Venezuela, we have established a robust legal and institutional framework highlighted by the organic law on the right of women to a life free from violence, which provides for the prevention, care, punishment and eradication of violence against women in all its forms.
Together with pioneering programmes such as the Great Venezuela Women's Mission and the Humanized Childbirth Great Mission and the National Plan for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, all aimed at promoting the health protection and economic empowerment of the most vulnerable populations.
Mr.
president, we denounce the fact that the application of unilateral coercive measures suffocates local economies, weakens, weakens health and justice systems and revictimize survivors by depriving them of essential resources.
We therefore call for their immediate lifting.
We also maintain that this council's sanctions regimes must be used exclusively and strictly to deter direct perpetrators, and must never result in collective punishment that harms the social fabric of an entire nation.
In conclusion, it is imperative to demonstrate genuine political will in order to strengthen national institutions and guarantee both the security as well as the dignity of surviving victims, enabling them to reintegrate fully and productively into society.
Thank you very much.
I thank the representative of Venezuela for her statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Montenegro.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Montenegro aligns itself with the statement by the EU and Canada on behalf of the Group of Friends of Peace.
We thank the presidency for convening this important debate and express our appreciation to the Special Representative for her detailed briefing, as well as to the representative of civil society for the valuable insights shared today.
The Secretary General Report presents a deeply alarming picture.
In 2025 alone, the UN verified nearly nearly ten 000 cases of conflict related sexual violence, more than double the number recorded in 2020 for women and girls accounted for 92% of verified victims.
Reminding us that they continue to bear the heaviest burden of these crimes.
The report also reminds us that conflict related sexual violence continues to have a devastating effect on civilians around the world.
Behind the statistics are people whose lives have been violated, future altered, and whose path to recovery is often long and difficult.
Montenegro strongly condemns all forms of conflict related sexual violence, regardless of where they occur or who commits them.
These crimes can never be accepted as an inevitable consequence of conflict.
We remain particularly concerned by the continued reports of conflict related sexual violence in Ukraine.
All allegations must be thoroughly investigated, perpetrators brought to justice and survivors provided with the support they need.
There can be no lasting peace without accountability.
Accountability also starts at home.
Montenegro continues to strengthen its response to war crimes, including CRC.
In 2025, our courts delivered the country's first convictions for conflict related sexual violence.
Two additional proceedings are currently underway while further investigations continue Although these steps cannot undo the suffering of victims, they send a clear message that these crimes will not be ignored.
Justice, however, is only part of the response.
Survivors must also have access to health care, psychosocial support, legal assistance and protection.
At a time when needs continue to grow and gender based violence is on the rise, we are deeply concerned by the reduction in funding for these essential services and prevention programmes.
Mr.
president, on June 19th, we marked the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.
Preventing and eradicating conflict related sexual violence is our obligation under the international law.
Montenegro reaffirms its commitment to addressing these crimes, ensuring accountability and supporting survivors and their communities.
Thank you.
Merci.
I thank the representative of Montenegro, and I now give the floor to the representative of Morocco.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The Kingdom of Morocco would like to thank the Democratic Republic of the Congo for convening this open debate within the framework of its Security Council presidency.
We are very appreciative to Her Excellency the Prime Minister for having personally chaired this meeting.
Her presence here at the rostrum sends a strong signal.
It is a message of solidarity to all survivors whose voices deserve to be heard in this chamber.
Morocco also wishes to thank the Srsg for her constant briefings, her unswerving commitment and the remarkable work her team is doing.
Mr.
president, 25 years after resolution 1325 and over 15 years after resolution 1888, the SDGs report doesn't take stock of progress made.
It sends an urgent message.
Morocco shares the concerns expressed in the report and the gap between normative commitments and the reality lived by survivors.
This calls for us to shoulder our collective responsibility in keeping with the gravity of the situation.
Mr.
president, the Kingdom of Morocco committed to this matter long ago.
We are convinced that conflict related sexual violence seriously.
Something that must be addressed so as to achieve maintenance of international peace and security.
The United Nations has over 3000 blue helmets in the field, many of them women, and Morocco tries to ensure that its contingent fully ensure that they protect civilians, in particular women and girls.
Morocco.
Subscribes to the main international instruments on women's rights and international humanitarian law.
We actively support efforts being made by the international community so as to strengthen prevention, protection and accountability mechanisms.
As a member of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security, Morocco has reaffirmed on numerous occasions our condemnation of all forms of sexual violence, conflict related sexual violence, as well as our support for the Srsg mandate.
Mr.
president, Morocco would like to emphasise three imperatives.
First, accountability.
The normative architecture crafted by the council is robust.
Nonetheless, it must ensure that there are real consequences for the perpetrators of these crimes.
Impunity is not a fatality, it is a political choice, and the international community has the power and the duty to no longer tolerate impunity.
The second imperative is that of resources protecting survivors and deploying women's protection advisers requires sustainable and predictable funding.
That is in keeping with the task at hand.
The third imperative lies in a survivor centred approach.
Women and girls shouldn't simply be at the heart of reports.
They and problems.
They should be at the heart of solutions.
They should craft the policies which affect them.
They should be mainstreamed through peace, justice and recovery efforts.
On this note, Morocco has three concrete proposals.
First, on sanctions, Morocco calls for a more rigorous and systematic application of the sexual violence criteria.
Crisp criteria in existing sanctions regimes.
Naturally, this would be on the basis of verifiable and credible information.
Second, the protection of survivors Morocco calls for rapid access to medical care, psychosocial support, as well as legal assistance in a comprehensive manner with particular attention paid.
To the legal identity and registration of children born of rape, as well as effective work to protect actors on the ground from reprisals.
Next, we would like to call for.
Continued financing for services geared towards survivors, including health care services, and this despite budgetary restrictions.
Mr.
president, by way of conclusion Morocco would like to reaffirm our unswerving support to the ISG and the Srsg as they discharge their mandates.
We are fully committed to the entire normative framework, which has been patiently erected by this Council, by honouring the promise of international law to survivors, as is the title of this debate.
Honouring this promise is not simply a legal duty.
It is a moral collective, a pressing imperative to which Morocco hopes to contribute with determination and constancy.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Morocco.
I now give the floor to the representative of Zimbabwe.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Zimbabwe congratulates the Democratic Republic of the Congo on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of July 2026 and wishes you every success in guiding the Council's work.
We commend the DRC for convening this important debate and thank Prime Minister Judith Sumana Toluca for her leadership during this session.
We also thank the Special Representative, Pramila Patten in the civil society, briefer for carrying the voices of the survivors into this chamber.
The Secretary-General's report is a summons to conscience.
It records a sharp rise in verified cases of conflict related sexual violence in 2025 marked by extreme brutality overwhelmingly directed against women and girls.
Behind every case is not a statistic, but a life wounded, a family shaken and a community scarred.
The council has spoken clearly so many times before.
Resolution 1820 recognised that sexual violence may be used as a tactic of war to humiliate, dominate, instil fear in, disperse and or forcibly relocate civilians.
Resolution 1960 reaffirmed that such violence, when used as a tactic of war or as part of a widespread or systematic attack can significantly exacerbate and prolong situations of armed conflict.
Resolution 2467 therefore, demands the complete cessation with immediate effect of all acts of sexual violence by parties to conflict.
The question before us, then, is whether our words will be matched by action.
International law must not be a distant promise to survivors.
It must be a present shield, a path to justice, and a bridge to dignity.
Zimbabwe therefore adds its voice in support of victims by calling for five practical steps.
First, parties to conflict must issue orders prohibiting sexual violence, backed by discipline and prosecution.
Secondly, ceasefire, peace and security arrangements must explicitly prohibit conflict related sexual violence, exclude such crimes from amnesties and include survivor sensitive monitoring.
Thirdly, member states and United Nations missions should preserve evidence, strengthen national investigation and prosecution capacity, and apply sanctions where persistent perpetrators defy council demands.
Fourthly, survivors must have safe, non-discriminatory access to medical care, psychosocial support, legal aid, socio economic reintegration and reparations.
Fifthly, women Protection advisors and women led and survivor led organisations must be funded, including during mission transitions.
Mr.
president, council must send one message.
The body of a woman, girl, man or boy is not a battlefield.
Survivors have waited long enough.
The law must now reach them where they are.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the representative of Zimbabwe for his statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Ukraine.
Mr.
president, Ukraine thanks the Democratic Republic of the Congo for convening this very important open debate.
We also thank the Under-Secretary general, Miss Pamela Patton, and Miss Karen Jocelyn for their presentations.
Russia's aggression against Ukraine has brought back to the European continent a myriad of war crimes that many believed belong to the darkest chapters of history.
Yet among this catalogue of atrocities, conflict related sexual violence stands apart through its particular cruelty and depravity.
These crimes are designed to strip victims of dignity, terrorise entire communities, and ultimately break the will of the entire nation.
This year's secretary general report leaves no room for ambiguity.
Conflict related sexual violence has become woven into the fabric of Russia's modus operandi.
It is inflicted deliberately, systematically and with a clear purpose to humiliate, dominate and destroy the aggressor.
State has institutionalized sexual violence as a method of torture in places of detention throughout the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and inside Russia itself.
Victims include prisoners of war abducted and illegally detained Ukrainian civilians who are held in penal colonies, secret detention facilities and so-called filtration camps.
These crimes they describe.
Upon liberation are almost beyond language rape, gang rape rape with objects, forced nudity, genital mutilation, castration.
Approximately 80% of Ukrainian men released from Russian captivity report the use of electric shocks applied to the genital area.
Prisoners are forced to confess to crimes they never committed.
Some confess simply to gain the opportunity to hear the voice of a loved one, or merely to survive another day.
While men constitute the overwhelming majority of documented victims, women have been subjected to these crimes as well.
Numerous international mechanisms have documented rape, including with batons and other objects.
Repeated and collective rapes committed against female prisoners of war, Ukrainian detainees and civilian women in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
These crimes inflict wounds that will continue to haunt survivors, their families and entire communities.
These crimes are also committed not by an outlaw militia beyond the reach of the international law.
They are committed by the Russian Federation, a state that occupies, although unlawfully, the seat of a permanent member of this very council.
Ukraine welcomes the Secretary General's decision to list the Russian armed and security forces among parties that systematically engage in conflict related sexual violence.
Russia is now listed under both the Children and Armed Conflict and the CRC mandate, but listing cannot become merely another entry in another UN report.
As the Secretary General rightly recalls in one of his reports, state actors repeatedly listed should not participate in UN peacekeeping operations.
This principle was further reinforced by numerous UN Security Council resolutions, and we count on resolute action to ensure its full implementation.
Accountability also requires exposing the full scale of these crimes.
Secretary General's annual report documents hundreds of CRC cases.
Despite Russia's almost complete denial of access to places of detention or temporarily occupied territories.
If this is what the world knows, without access just imagine what remains hidden.
The international community must not normalize Russia's obstruction.
Every denied visit, every unanswered request must be met with stronger international pressure Ukraine, on its part, continues to provide comprehensive access to independent international monitors throughout the territory under its control.
The aggressor state must be held to the same standard.
Mr.
president, as of today, Ukrainian law enforcement authorities have registered around 400 cases of conflict related sexual violence in the context of Russian aggression.
These figures are only the tip of the iceberg because of stigma, trauma, fear and victim blaming.
It is estimated that only about 1 in 10 survivors is willing or able to report these crimes.
In this context, Ukraine highly values its cooperation with the Special Representative, Pramila Patten, and her office, and especially a team of experts on the rule of law and sexual violence in conflict.
Over the past years, this cooperation has evolved into a truly comprehensive, multidimensional and results oriented partnership.
Together, we can strengthen Ukraine's legislation, enhance prosecutorial and investigative capacities, embedded, survivor centered and trauma informed approaches throughout our justice system.
Improved access to legal aid, delivered extensive trainings, and developed Ukraine's interim reparation framework for survivors.
This partnership demonstrates that we can.
What can be achieved when UN expertise meets national determination? We look forward to further building on these achievements.
Ukraine will also continue to ensure that Every allegation of CRS is thoroughly investigated, every survivor is heard, and every perpetrator is brought to justice.
Only by confronting the truth in its entirety can we dismantle impunity and lay the foundation of adjusting lasting peace based on unwavering respect for international law.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Ukraine for your statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Cabo Verde.
Thank you.
President Cabo Verde expresses its deepest appreciation towards Her Excellency, Madam Prime Minister and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for convening this important open debate.
We also thank the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Miss Pramila Patten, and Miss Corinne Corinne Jocelyn, for their valuable insights.
Conflict related sexual violence remains one of the gravest violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
It is used as a tactic of war, terror and repression, leaving profound physical, physiological and social consequences for the survivors, their families and entire communities.
Women and girls continue to bear the heaviest burden.
Although men, boys and persons of diverse backgrounds are also affected.
For Cabo Verde, honouring the promise of international law begins with placing survivors at the centre of every response.
Survivors must not be seen solely as victims, but as rights holders and essential partners in designing policies, justice processes and recovery efforts.
Their dignity, agency and informed choices must guide our collective action.
Justice is indispensable to prevention.
Perpetrators of conflict related sexual violence must be held accountable through credible national and international mechanisms.
Ending impunity is not only a legal obligation, but also a deterrent against future violations.
We therefore support strengthening investigative capacities, preserving evidence, ensuring survivor centred judicial processes, and making full use of the tools available to the Security Council, including sanctions where appropriate and consistent with international law.
Prevention requires sustained political commitment and investment.
We must strengthen early warning, integrate conflict related sexual violence considerations across peace operations, mediation and peace building efforts, and ensure that mission transitions do not create protection gaps that leave women and girls at even greater risk.
Women's protection advisers, women, peacebuilders and local women's organisations play an indispensable role and should receive predictable political and financial support.
We are equally concerned that growing humanitarian needs and financial constraints are reducing access to essential services for survivors.
Comprehensive health care, including sexual and reproductive health services, psychosocial support, legal assistance, education and economic reintegration are not optional.
They are fundamental components of the recovery, resilience and lasting peace.
Mr.
president, the women Peace and Security agenda reminds us that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the full, equal and meaningful participation of women at every stage of conflict prevention, peace processes and post-conflict recovery.
Investing in women's leadership is therefore not only a matter of justice, but also of more effective peace building.
Let us therefore, renew our collective determination to translate the Security Council's normative framework into concrete protection for those who need it most.
Survivors deserve much more than our solidarity.
They deserve justice, protection, reparations and the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Merci.
I thank the representative of Cabo Verde for your statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Kyrgyzstan.
Excellencies.
At the outset, we would like to thank Democratic Republic of the Congo for convening today's open debate.
Conflict related sexual violence remains one of the gravest violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
It leaves profound and lasting consequences for individuals, families and societies.
Such crimes inflict profound physical and psychological harm on survivors, devastate families and communities, and undermine prospects for lasting peace and reconciliation.
In Kyrgyzstan, we continue to strengthen our legal and institutional framework to combat sexual violence, protect victims and ensure accountability.
At the same time, our humanitarian efforts to repatriate and reintegrate more than 500 citizens, primarily women and children from conflict zones, have reinforced our understanding that recovery requires far more than physical return.
It requires coordinated legal, psychological, medical and social support, as well as sustained efforts to help people rebuild their lives and reintegrate into the local communities.
The experience of my country demonstrates that addressing the consequences of armed conflict requires a comprehensive and human centred approach.
Our experience also highlights the importance of preventive efforts.
We must strengthen awareness of the absolute unacceptability of sexual violence in conflict, challenge harmful stereotypes and stigma faced by survivors, and promote education that fosters respect for human dignity and equality.
Mr.
president, our response to conflict related sexual violence must begin with accountability.
The international community has established a strong framework through international humanitarian law, international human rights law and the Security Council's Resolution on Women, peace and security and conflict related sexual violence.
Our collective task is to ensure their full, consistent and effective implementation based on the principle of impartiality.
This requires strengthening national capacities, enhancing international cooperation, supporting survivor centred approaches and ending impunity for perpetrators.
Equally important is ensuring comprehensive support for survivors, access to medical care, psychological services, legal assistance and long term reintegration should be available without discrimination and tailored to the specific needs of survivors In this regard, local communities often play an indispensable role and deserve sustained support.
Finally, we should continue to ensure that survivors are not viewed solely as beneficiaries of assistance, but as partners whose perspectives can help shape more effective policies and responses.
Kyrgyzstan looks forward to contributing constructively to advancing the women peace and security agenda including efforts to prevent and respond to conflict related sexual violence.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Kyrgyzstan for the statement.
There are still a number of speakers remaining on my list for this meeting.
I intend, with the concurrence of members of the Council, to suspend the meeting until Friday morning.
Following the meeting that we already have scheduled.
The meeting is suspended.